Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels BMW E36 M3 Race in red...

That was fast.

No sooner did we ask the question about whether or not we would see the red version of the E36 that was previewed at Nationals, did we get our answer.

Yesterday we previewed the brand new Hot Wheels BMW E36 M3 in Alpine White, and expectedly many of you were very excited to see it is on its way.  Now we have images of the same model in red:

Same M3 Lightweight-type design, but in bright red.  Hard to say which one we like better.  We will make it easy and take both once they are out.

We also get a better idea of the model's stance, which a few of you have mentioned is a bit concerning.  It does seem a bit high, but we will withhold judgement until we have it in hand.

In the meantime, we will create some space in the collection for this model in both red and white, whichever comes first...

Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels BMW E36 M3 Race...

Oh boy...

At the Hot Wheels Nationals Convention a few months ago, the Mattel team dropped a couple of new model bombs, announcing that two additions to the 2014 Mainline would be the Porsche 934 Turbo and BMW E36 M3.

Both came as a surprise, and a very happy surprise at that.  Hot Wheels continues to expand the variety of the models it is releasing, and some from very recent eras.  The 934 and E36 follow in the footsteps of the BMW 2002 and E30, as well as the Porsche 993 GT2, among many others.  To say we are excited about both of these is an understatement.

That is why the first images of the BMW E36 M3 make us very happy.  Check them out:

This model is different than the one previewed in the e-sheet image at Nationals:

Instead of red, it appears it will make its debut in classic BMW Alpine White with signature red and blue checkered racing trim, clearly evoking the style of the M3 Lightweight deco.  With that trim and spoiler, it looks very familiar:

We can't wait for this one to hit, and it looks to be soon.  Now to see that 934...

Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-R...

We previewed this a few days ago, but the model was incomplete.  Now, images have finally surfaced showing the soon-to-be-released C110 Skyline GT-R, complete in its tribute livery to the 72 Tokyo Auto Show edition, along with gold MC5 wheels.

We figured these would be the wheels used, as they made the most sense for a basic model, and it looks great.  Of course, this casting could sport flames and any wheel and I would still buy a few.  The Kenmeri is my favorite Hot Wheels model.  Not one of my favorites, but my favorite.  If you need any evidence, I took this photo on Sunday while going through the collection:

Yeah, I am a tad excited for this one...

Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Zamac Exclusives for 2014 Batch N...

Wait, aren't we waiting for the Batch L Zamacs to arrive?

We are, and they should arrive very soon.  The Chevelle Wagon, Lincoln Continental, and '69 Chevy Pickup should be in stores in the next couple of weeks.  But in the world of Hot Wheels they are already old news.

Some interesting eBay listings popped up from Texas this weekend, showcasing what the specific three Zamacs would be for Batch N, and they do not disappoint.  We knew these were coming eventually, we just didn't know when.  A little Ford, a little Chevy, and a little JDM never hurt anyone:

Nice trio, eh?  Mustang fans will love the '67 Custom, but we here at Lamley can't wait to get our hands on the Hakosuka Skyline and Chevelle SS.  In fact, we might have to get an extra, or 10.

Nonetheless, the Zamacs continue to be a very strong line in 2014, with three more to be unveiled.  At the pace we are going, we might know what they are tomorrow...

Has the last Super of 2014 been unveiled, or the first of 2015?

This VERY interesting photo just started circulating, and it definitely piques our curiosity:

So what are we looking at?  A strange, but fantastic-looking, recolor of the 2014 Kool Kombi?  Or the first Super of 2015?  

Either way, we want it.  Your thoughts?

Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Datsun 510 Wagon Super Treasure Hunt and Mainline...

Thanks to our friends at Speedhunters and Mattel Designer Jun Imai, the biggest news for Hot Wheels JDM fans is finally out of the bag.

Rumors have been swirling about a Datsun 510 Wagon Super Treasure Hunt, and now we can finally confirm it is coming.  Speedhunters asked Jun to give a retrospective of his first 10 years at Mattel, and he delivered a doozy.  No need for us to rehash.  Just read the article and drool over the pics:

A Decade of Design: Jun Imai's Hot Wheels Favorites

The Datsun as a mainline will already be a very hot model, so we here at Lamley figure the Super TH will be white hot.  The model is based on Jun's own 510 Wagon, only in red.  (The Boulevard is closer to the green he used.)

And on top of that, Jun gives a shoutout to some of his (and our) favorite Japanese car enthusiasts, namely Japanese Nostalgic Car, Speedhunters, JCCS, and our Utah compatriots JDM Legends.  This, friends, is an epic model.

Anyone excited?

Just Unveiled, Part 2: Better pics of the upcoming Walmart Exclusive Zamac Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X...

We were happy to break the news last week about the upcoming Zamac Hakosuka, but now we can have ourselves a better look.

These photos have emerged of the Skyline, and here at Lamley we like what we see.  Yes, green interior with green and yellow striping seems a little odd, but frankly there is nothing wrong with "a little odd".

We will choose instead to focus on how great having an unpainted Hako really is.  You could put it in hot pink trim and I wouldn't complain.  The fact is the return of the Zamac exclusives has been one of the highlights of the Hot Wheels line in the last couple of years, and not just because the cars look cool.  It is also because the variety is so great.  Muscle, supercars, JDM, pickups, current cars, you name it.

So all we needed to hear was Zamac and Hako, and we were in.  Seeing it in detail confirms that we will be ALL OVER this one when it is released...

Just Unveiled: 2014 Hot Wheels Zamac exclusive Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X...

We found out about this model a couple of months ago, and have been hinting at its upcoming release in various Lamley posts.  Of course only those that actually read the articles knew, and it was fun to see many of you keep it a secret.

But now the news is out, as photos have surfaced of the Walmart exclusive Zamac Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X, and we are here to share.  The Hakosuka should be hitting Walmarts soon, and we just hope the distribution is better than the last batch of Zamacs, that we still have yet to see in our area.

The Hakosuka's return to the mainline has been a happy one, with it looking stellar in black, and the Zamac compliments it perfectly.  Unless it is sporting a racing livery, less is more with the Hako, and the HW design team has clearly embraced that.

Of course, we do wonder if there will be yet a third recolor on the Then & New R34 Skyline to match this one.  The R34 was a Zamac last year, so maybe a silver version will suffice.  We shall see.

So get your hunting shoes on.  The black Skyline is hitting now, and the Zamac soon after, and both are bound to be a bit popular...

Just Unveiled: 2014 Hot Wheels Nissan "Kenmeri" Skyline H/T 2000GT-R...

We have known about this one for awhile, but now that the cat is out of the bag on ebay, we thought we might as well share.

Since Hot Wheels released the Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines in 2011, we have been waiting to see them return to the mainline.  We have already seen the 2014 version of the Hako in black, and we know that it will also be showing soon as a Zamac, and now we have the 2014 version of the Kenmeri, which you can see in the link below:

2014 Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-R

Keep in mind the model for sale is not entirely accurate.  The wheels on this model listed will not be on the mainline release.  The body, base, and interior are correct, but there will be standard mainline wheels on this one.  We are not promoting this seller, as this is most likely a leaked model from the factory.  But since the model is being shown, we decided to pass it along.  As soon as we see images of the model with its correct wheels, we will pass it along.  In the meantime, we do not recommend bidding on or buying the model in this listing.

This is an exciting release.  Not only is it my favorite Hot Wheels model, but it is also an obvious tribute to the famous 1972 Tokyo Auto Show Skyline.  We have said the Tokyo Show version would make an excellent RLC or Premium model, and we still think it will.  For now, we have a version that looks eerily like it, but not enough for Mattel to pay a licensing fee (we think).  We do hope to see a premium version soon, a la the Kyosho Beads release from a few years ago.

Like we said earlier, we will show the proper version once it is out, but for now we will join many in you in anticipating this model's release...

Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Nissan 370Z for 2014...

It is nice to have this one back.

We've got Celicas, 2000GT's, Hakosukas, Kenmeris, 510s, Hachis, and many other nostalgic Japanese all over the mainline, but they left a little room for the current crop.  On the heels of the Scion FR-S just hitting Walmarts in its Zamac outfit, we now know what the new Nissan 370Z looks like.

We will let the pictures do the talking, but we think a few of you might be happy with the livery...

Just Unveiled: 2014 Hot Wheels Greenwood Corvette in its "non-Super" clothes...

With 13 of the 15 Super Treasure Hunts for 2014 already unveiled, we now have a clear idea on how this year's lineup is shaping up.  There are a ton of Chevys (more on that tomorrow), a few Fords, and a Hot Wheels Classic.  Looking at it that way, the lineup looks rather bland, especially after two Toyotas last year among all the muscle.

But when you look at the individual castings, there are some gems.  We got a Brazilian car, a cool Wagon, that mean '70 Chevelle, a new collector fave in the Gasser.  And then there are two that surely fall in Lamley's "Cool is Cool is Cool" category, the '71 Mustang Mach 1 and the '76 Greenwood Corvette.

I think I have made it well-known that the Greenwood Corvette is one of my favorite Hot Wheels castings, and one of my two favorite American car castings along with the Gran Torino Sport.  So any news on either casting will be reported here.  And after ogling over the Greenwood Super, we now know what the standard mainline version looks like:

And yep, she's pretty.  Hot Wheels is great about using era-appropriate colors and designs on many of its castings, and Greenwood is as '70's as it comes.  While the Torino Sport can look updated on modern wheels with modern colors and designs, the Greenwood is all 70's racer, and needs to stay that way.  So we love the orange with white trim.  And, yeah, that Super ain't bad either.  It is only our favorite of the first 13 Supers by a mile...

Lamley News: Porsche 934 Turbo RSR, BMW E36 M3 Race, 2015 Ford Mustang coming to the 2014 Hot Wheels Mainline...

We divulged the three Japanese Cool Classics that Hot Wheels unveiled at Nationals last night, but for Lamley readers there was a much bigger bombshell.  We knew the Cool Classics were coming.  We didn't know this piece of news:

When Hot Wheels unveiled the 2014 Mainline, there were a few "TBD" on the list.  We have since learned that one of them was Snoopy, but these other three are far more exciting, as revealed at the Nationals Convention:

Porsche 934 Turbo RSR

BMW E36 M3 Race

2015 Ford Mustang GT

The Mustang is a no-brainer, and we figured that was coming, but these other two come as a surprise. Coming off the buzz that the Porsche 993 created, Hot Wheels went back a few years to the late 70's to do another legendary Porsche, one that sits perfectly with the 993:

It is a shocker to know that within a year Hot Wheels has done both a 934 and a 993.  If I was asked awhile ago what Porsches I would like to see Hot Wheels do, it would be these two along with the original 911.  It is a stunner, and we can't wait to see it in person.

The same goes for BMW.  2002, E30, and now the E36:

This is surely another treat, and like the 934 to 993, the E36 is perfect compliment to the E30.  The funny thing?  We kind of heard this was coming.  A BMW enthusiast contacted us late last year saying he called Mattel to ask if they were doing more BMW's, and the operator said she would get back to him.  She called back and said the E36.  We thought she was just confusing a new color of the E30, but it sounds like she wasn't.  Maybe we are on to something.  Just call Mattel if you want to know what is coming.  Sounds easy, eh?

So what do you think?  Actually we don't care.  We are way two excited for these two...

Lamley News: The three j-tin Cool Classics unveiled by Mattel at Nationals...

A quick pop-in here late on Saturday night to let you know of a few tidbits from the Hot Wheels Nationals Convention in Illinois this weekend.

During the Saturday evening dinner, Mattel will preview some upcoming models, and there were a few that surely had the audience oooooing and ahhhhhing.  But there were three in particular that interested us here at Lamley, and thanks to our friend John Falk, we have the images.  They are all from the Cool Classics line, and we are very happy with all three:

Datsun Bluebird 510

Honda S2000

Subaru BRAT

The Cool Classics line continues to come into its own, and these three models are great examples of that.  The Cool Classic wheels, designed by Jun Imai, are perfect for the 510, and that is bound to be a very popular model.  Ryu Asada's S2000 is also a popular model, and we are quite fond of the Cool is Cool is Cool Subaru BRAT.

What do you think?  Are you in on these?

Lamley News: New multipack version of the '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport is out...

UPDATE: We were told this was found in a multipack, but could this be a new Fast & Furious model?  It looks an awful lot like Letty's Torino, as was pointed out by a reader.  We have heard rumors of the new metal spoiler R34 Skyline in the same livery as the FF R34 last year, so we are now wondering.  Thoughts?

How much do you love Hot Wheels' approach to multipack models?  Gift packs used to be 10 cars, 9 of which were standard mainlines, with one exclusive.  If you liked the exclusive, you might pick up the pack.  The other nine models didn't give you too many reasons to pick it up.

But that has changed.  Gift packs still contain the special exclusive, but among the other models are many other multipack exclusive cars.  And while some are non-licensed, many are bonus recolors of previous licensed models.  The list of multipack exclusive models is now extensive, and many get a new color each year.

Well we have another that at least those of us at Lamley are pretty excited about.  Someone at Mattel must share the same passion that we have for the '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport.  It is our favorite muscle casting, and it has been everywhere since its debut in 2011.

Let's review:

2011 - 3 colors
2012 - 3 colors (one Walmart exclusive), Kroger exclusive Super Speeders
2013 - 2 colors, one Super TH, one RLC exclusive
2014 - 2 colors

That comes out to 13 different versions in four years.  And we happily have collected them all.

There is now a 14th, and it is a fifth color of the 2011 New Models version.  To refresh your memory, here are the three colors from 2011 and the fourth color from the 2012 Super Speeders line:

Here is the fifth, now found in multipacks:

Different wheels, and no "Gran Torino" on the side stripe, but the rest is the same.  Once we find it, it's going into the collection.  Even if we have to pay $10 to get it...

Lamley News: Is Snoopy charging towards the Hot Wheels pegs in Batch J?

How is this for an interesting model?  This image has been making the rounds, along with the other models from Hot Wheels Batch J, and while we at Lamley are interested in some others, one image brought out the most curiosity.

A few batches removed from the surprise that was the Homer, could it be that Charlie Brown's best buddy, Snoopy, is joining the mainline?

If he is, this will be a very popular model.  At least we assume it will be.  The Homer was gobbled up.  In fact, we never saw it on the pegs in all of our travels.  We were lucky to get a couple at Kdays.  Snoopy should gain the same amount of attention.

And we hope it does.  Because while collectors are scrummaging the pegs for their Charlie Brown fix, we can sneak in and grab these three beauties:

Scion FR-S (Zamac)

1990 Honda Civic EF recolor

Datsun 620 Pickup recolor

Go ravage your Walmarts for Batch H, which is hitting now.  Because a storm is coming next month, in the form of Batch J...

UPDATE:

He is coming.  These appeared on ebay: